Suzy's Writing Corner - Lesson 13- Point of View

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Suzy's Writing Corner

Welcome to my writing workshop for budding young authors. Learn how to create your characters and "show don't tell" their feelings. Write beginnings that "hook" your readers. Learn to use a "writing camera" to freeze a scene, and more! Download free worksheets. Click LESSON 1 on the left sidebar to begin.
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Aug. 31, 2007

Lesson 13- Point of View

Point of...what?
If this seems like a strange topic for a writing lesson, read on. It's actually quite simple. And very important. "Point of View" is when you decide which character is "telling" the story. And you stick with that character (usually your main character). It's not like a movie. In a movie, the audience is shown what is happening to all of the characters. We jump around from scene to scene, and sometimes we get to see what the main star of the movie can't see. Sometimes in books for adults, we read about the main character for a while and then we read about a completely different character in the next chapter. However, as young authors, you should try and keep your story all about the main character.

Of course I love to give examples. Here is one, and there is another good example of Point of View (POV) in the worksheets you will download.

Let's say your main character is a boy named Zach. He lives on a space station in another solar system with his dad (the commander), his best friend Ty, and one hundred other station personnel. As the story opens, Zach has allowed Ty to talk him into checking out the newest shipment of components to upgrade his computer. But they're stored in a restricted area. Zach doesn't know how in the world Ty can talk him into doing things he knows will get them into trouble. When I write this story, I can have Zach thinking things like, "I can't believe I let Ty talk me into this." The reader will see everything Zach sees; the reader will feel when Zach hears a noise and jumps and gasps. This story, then, is from Zach's Point of View (POV). Because Zach is the main character, I do not write what Ty is thinking. I don't write what Ty is feeling. I can SHOW what Ty is feeling, because Zach can see that. I also can't jump to the command center and show readers what Zach's dad, Commander Rice, is thinking when the alarm goes off in the restricted area! I can only tell the story as it unfolds from Zach's POV.

So how do we show what the other characters are thinking or feeling? Use words like "obviously," "probably," "clearly," and "knew" to keep your POV consistent. Need an example? OK:

Sarah is the main (POV) character. Jon is her brother. How do I show readers that Jon is hungry? I can't say, "Jon's stomach twisted with hunger." How could Sarah see that? Instead, I can say, "Sarah knew Jon was hungry. He clutched his stomach and complained, "When's lunch?"

This was a short lesson, and the assignment is actually great fun!
1) Click on the Lesson 13 below to download the worksheets. STUDY the two examples of how I switched Points of View (POV).

LESSON 13--POINT OF VIEW

2) List #1, 2, 3 at the bottom of the second page and write who is the POV character.
3) Choose one of the following writing assignments:

---Think of a fairy tale you are familiar with. For instance, Jack and the Beanstalk. Jack is the POV character. Think of a scene in the book, perhaps when he is running away with the hen. Retell the story from the giant's point of view. What is he thinking? Feeling? Doing?

---Pretend you are a gold nugget in a stream during the gold rush of 1849. A big hand has just reached in and grabbed you. Write a story that tells about your adventures. Make sure you stay in the POV of the gold nugget.

---Think of a Bible story, like Paul and Silas in jail. Instead of writing it from Paul's POV, write the story from the jailer's point of view. What is he thinking when the earthquake starts? What does he do? How does he feel?
---Find a scene from a book you are reading or have read and liked. (A short scene!). Decide who is the POV character in the scene, then copy it onto your post. (Make sure the scene has more than one character in it). Now...do as I did in the worksheets and rewrite the scene from a different character's Point of View (POV).

Well, that should keep you busy. If you like, you can do all of the choices! I look forward to reading them. Don't forget to sign Mr. Linky and leave a comment!

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Comments

Dec. 28, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by BookLover

It was easy to transfer your feedback--I just copied it and instead of being Anonymus I signed it as you! The only thing its missing is the feedback.

And as for putting your links right under Suzy's Writing Corner, I think I could do that. could you send me the code for that section if you know what I mean?